TRAI has amended regulation to allow
Pan-India Mobile Number Portability (MNP).
In this regard, TRAI
has issued 6th amendment to the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability
Regulation, 2009. It will come into effect from 3rd May 2015.
Key Facts
- MNP enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.
- At present, MNP norms allow users to retain their numbers while changing their operators within the same service area or telecom circle, which in most cases, is limited to a particular State.
- The new amended rule will allow mobile telephone users to retain their numbers by changing their operators in different telecom circles which in this case is different states across country i.e. Pan-India MNP.
Highlights of Uttar Pradesh budget 2015-16
Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Akhilesh Yadav presented Rs 3.02 lakh crore annual budget of state on
24 February 2015. In annual budget state government has given main thrust on
agriculture, education, power, health, roads and infrastructure development.
Key facts from budget
- The budget also contains the fiscal deficit of 2.96% of the total GDP of the state. Whereas the state’s debt is expected to be around 27.5% of its GDP.
- Taxes - For 2015-16 no new taxes have been levied in the budget.
- Agriculture - State government has declared year 2015-16 as the Farmers year. In this regard 1000 Agri centrs will be established to promote agriculture as a good mean of livelihood among young farmer entrepreneurs.
- Government Schemes - State government has included new schemes of over Rs 9388 crores in the budget.
- For farmer’s accident insurance scheme, Rs 600 crores have been allocated. For women empowerment, Rs. 100 crore Mahila Samman Kosh has been created. For free laptop for meritorious students scheme, state government has allocated Rs 100 crores.
- Power sector - Rs 25764 crores have been allocated for power up gradation and line maintenance in the state.
- Health - State government of built state of the art cancer Institute in Lucknow with a cost of Rs 854 crores. for In proposed budget Rs 111 crores have been allocated.
- Infrastructure - State government allocated Rs 3000 crores to Lucknow Agra Express way. It will longest elevated expressway in India on completion.
Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav resigns
- The Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav tendered his resignation to the Centre
- This comes immediately after the Centre asked him step down following a registration of a first information report (FIR) against him in a recruitment scam.
- Yadav was named in an FIR registered by a special task force (STF) probing the multi-crore Madhya Pradesh professional examination board (MPPEB) or Vyapam scam under various sections of IPC, including 420 for cheating.
Ravi Chaudhary appointed as Executive Director for FAA Operations
Ravi Chaudhary, an Indian
American has been appointed as Executive director for Regions and Center
Operations at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a key federal aviation
post of United States (US). As Executive director of FAA, Chaudhary will be
responsible to Execute and oversight aviation operations in 9 different regions
of US as well as the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Execute a $288
million operating budget and lead over 2100 federal employees assigned to the
FAA in 9 regions.
About Ravi Chaudhary
- Chaudhary is a former US Air Force officer with 21 years of service experience at various Air Force bases. He also is a C-17 pilot and had completed various assignments in Air Force command, operational, engineering, and senior staff assignments.
- He holds FAA commercial, instrument pilot and multi-engine certificates. Since 2001 in his deployments he has logged over 3000 hours as a pilot and flight test engineer which includes 760 combat hours.
- In May 2014, US President Barack Obama had appointed him as a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
- Chaudhary holds a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Academy and M.S. degree in industrial engineering as a NASA graduate fellow from St. Mary’s University.
About Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
FAA is a national aviation authority of the
United States. At present it is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
It is nodal agency in US that regulates and oversees all aspects of American
civil aviation.
UK becomes 1st country to legalise creation babies using DNA three-person
United Kingdom has
become the first country to legalise the creation of three-parent IVF designer
babies using Mitochondrial Donation Technique. In this regard, House of Lords
has voted in voted in favour of the Bill that amends the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Act (HFEA), 1990. Earlier on 3 February 2015, House of
Commons had passed the bill. Now UK’s fertility regulator Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority (HFEA) will decide how to license the procedure to
prevent babies inheriting deadly genetic diseases. After legalisation and
final procedural nod from HFEA, the first baby may be born as early as 2016.
Implications
- This law will help to prevent serious inherited diseases that are being passed on from mother to child.
- It will also help to remove the hereditary problems related to defective mitochondrial diseases that has passed down through the generations.
- Now in United Kingdom, women with hereditary mitochondrial diseases will be able to give birth to healthy babies without transferring their hereditary diseases.
Advantages Mitochondrial Donation Technique
It does not allow passage of defective mitochondria from
mother to babies. Thus, preventing new born babies from dangerous diseases
related brain damage, muscle wasting, heart failure and blindness due to
defective mitochondria.
DK Pandey appointed as Director General of Police of Jharkhand
- DK Pandey is appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jharkhand. He is a 1984 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.
- He succeeded Rajeev Kumar who was posted as the DGP (Training). Kumar is an IPS officer of 1981 batch.
- Prior to his posting as DGP of Jharkhand, D K Pandey was the Additional Director General (ADG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
27 Indian satellites currently operational: Union Government
Union Government has
announced as many as 27 Indian satellites are currently operational. It was
announced by Minister of State for Prime Minister Office (PMO) & Department
of Space Jitendra Singh said during Question Hour of Lok Sabha. Among the 27
operational satellites, 11 are communication satellites, 12 are earth
observation satellites, 3 are navigational satellites and 1 is Mars orbiter
mission.
Union Government also announced
- One more satellite will be launched in March 2015, while 3 more are in the pipeline.
- India is also taking leading role in launching satellites for the SAARC nations.
- Currently 95 Ku-band (a part of K band) transponders onboard indigenous communication satellites are being utilised for various communication applications.
- India also has perfected the science of weather forecasting. Thus accurately predicting cyclone and other natural calamities in recent times.
- With successful launch of five satellites in June 2015, India has entered the area of commercial satellites. It also laid the foundation of future satellite programmes
Ranchi Rays wins Champions of Hero Hockey India League 2015
- Ranchi Rays won the third edition of Champions of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) 2015. In the final match they defeated Jaypee Punjab Warriors by score of 3-2 in the penalty shootout after 2-2 tie in regular time match.
- With this Jaypee Punjab Warriors took second position followed by Delhi Waveriders in third position.
Awards from the Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) 2015
- Hero Goal of the Day- Barry Middleton of Ranchi Rays.
- Man-of the-Match- Tyler Lovell of Ranchi Rays.
- Hero Most Valuable Player of the Tournament- Ashley Jackson of Ranchi Rays